The IRONMAN Story

The IRONMAN Story

Whoever finishes first, We'll call him the Ironman

During an awards banquet for the Waikiki Swim Club, John Collins, a Naval Officer stationed in Hawai`i, and his fellow athletes began debating which athletes were the fittest: swimmers, bikers, or runners. Later, he and his wife Judy, who had both participated in new competitions known as triathlons in San Diego, decided to combine three of the toughest existing endurance races on the island. On February 18, 1978, 15 competitors, including Collins, came to the shores of Waikiki to take on the first-ever "Hawaiian Iron Man Triathlon."

1970's Gallery:

Stepping into the Limelight "The Crawl" Inspires

In 1980 founders John and Judy Collins give ABC's "Wide World of Sports" permission to film the event, bringing worldwide recognition to IRONMAN. Only two years later college student Julie Moss collapses just yards from the IRONMAN World Championship finish line. She is passed for the title, but does not give up; she crawls to the finish line, unknowingly creating one of the most iconic moments in IRONMAN history.

HistoryAt a glance

Since its inception, IRONMAN has been represented by ambitious and courageous people who aren't afraid to push their limits. Take a walk through history with us, through some of the finest and most memorable moments in IRONMAN racing.

Jim was born on April 13, 1963. In 1985, at the age of 22, Jim lost his left leg below the knee in a motorcycle accident. He recovered, and went on to run the 1989 Ironman Hawaii in 10 hours, 42 minutes.

Jon Blais completed the 2005 IRONMAN World Championship despite being diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. In 2007, Blais returned to Kona to celebrate the athletic accomplishments of new supporters of "The War on ALS."

IRONMANCommunity

IRONMAN is more than the world's most challenging endurance event, IRONMAN is a lifestyle. Whether you like us, follow us, or just want to share what inspires you, we encourage you to join the global IRONMAN social community.